Classics

I recently replaced my turn signals with after market ones and now my tail light and headlight are spontaneous on working. The brake light always works still when the brakes are pushed, but the constant tail light doesn't work all the time as well as the headlight. I'm going to replace the two bulbs in the brake light because i think one of them is burned out. Any idea what's going on here? All the electrical systems worked fine before the turn signal switch and at a time, i have two of the signals hooked up at the front with two stock in the rear and everything still worked great.

I just got new signals and brake light for my 81 xs400. The signals are hooked up correctly and the lights come on but they stay on constantly. The turn signal fuse keeps blowing as well. However, the brake light was being hooked up on and off with the battery still running. Also, the signals were being tested with the brake not hooked up. The brake light has three leads coming from it and won't change brightness when the brakes are applied. Any ideas?

Can anybody shed some light on this. My 1977 xs650 of 25000mls has a strange rattle when I start it up then dissapears in about a minute or less. It sounds a bit like piston slap but then it goes away? I have checked and adjusted the tappets and cam chain (cam chain did not need adjusting). It seems like something is waiting for oil then when it gets some it stops rattling. It runs really well otherwise, I am just a bit concerned about this noise on start up. Any ideas? John

Alright...so I've been cleaning up and restoring the '77 XS 400 I bought recently. The front and rear fenders are all rusted on the side facing the tire. This is understandable and can be dealt with easily. The problem is arising from the fact that the Chrome on the top surfaces has started to peel in spots and is rusted underneath. I'm trying to do all the resto on a shoestring budget as I'm in college and have very limited funds. What options do I have to try and fix up the fenders? Please don't mention a chrome shop as that is WAY too much money. Sanding sounds tedious without much results, and chemical etching and painting sounds dangerous especially in the 1 bedro…

Alright not completely sure what went wrong here. My clutch in my 82' xs400 Special has been slipping at high rpms so I recently purchased new friction plates and springs. So I take the cover off, take the springs off, remove the plates, replace the friction plates with the new ones after soaking them(reused the steel plates), and replaced the springs with the new ones. I tightened the retention bolts down until they seated and replaced the cover using a new gasket. Simple right???????? Now I have no tension in my clutch cable ... nada ... nothing. What the heck am I missing here? I should note that I checked the clutch cable and it is connected. I also adjusted thr…

Hello all, I have been trying to search the forum for help and finally figured I woudl just ask a question. 1981 xs400 special I cleaned the carbs and replaced float needles and o-rings. When I put the carbs back on it fired right up and idled good. I took it for a ride and when I pulled the clutch to slow down it died and would not restart, seemed flooded. Now it starts pretty easy but won't idle for long before it dies. Upon giving throttle it backfires and doesn't want to rev until it gets above 5000 RPM, then revs good above 5000. I took the plugs out and they were both black and one was grey at the very tip. I did find an exhaust leak on the right side so I will t…

I've had some real breakthroughs working on this oldie this month and now have it running smoothly. I'm moving onto breaks and tires next and thought I'd redo the rear master cylinder since I noticed it was clearly bad. Powersport Superstore had this chart: http://www.powersportsuperstore.com/Produc...&Click=8320 ..which clearly states that 1978 XS500 rear master cylinder part number is 29-2989. That part is out of stock---everywhere. According to Old Bike Barn the part number is 32-4031. From what I've read Old Bike Barn does not have the best reputation though. Powersport Superstore carries the 32-4031 part as well but it is not listed on their cha…

Hi all, I dropped my bike tonight And now my L/H turn signal (front & rear) won't work at all. Here are some symptoms: 1. I clicked the switch to the left and it will make some static noise like "dad dad dad dad dad." The turn signal light on the gauge won't turn on. 2. I tried to fiddle around with the light (front), I saw some spark at the connection. The signal on the gauge will turn on and there is no more static noise. However, the light itself still won't lite up. I will appreciate any help!! Thanks!

hi all you yam chums right iam just asking a simple question and that is " where the f*ck can i get a rear swing arm bolt and nut from for my 81 sr 250 ? or does anyone have one they wanna flog us ? or even still any idea of the length and diameter ( for girls girth ) can someone email us to help with my predicament as need it on road by October . I have then got to put my Harley into hibernation for 6 months jaybe ( john )

Yep, just as the title says. It's a 81 xs400 with 2600 miles, and I haven't yet taken the engine covers off. The oil/filter is fresh, and the only work I've done is rebuilding the carbs and checking valve gaps. At first it just randomly stalled and died right after leaving the house and while sitting at a stop sign. I went to the coffee shop, then I noticed a weird metal on metal sound a few times during start-up, might be coming from something loose inside the engine. I took it for a brief drive, and under load it stumbled/surged several times and generally ran like crap. It ran ok while at a stop. I'm a bit afraid to drive it much, as whatever is bouncing a…

http://www.mikesxs.net/products-27.html#products 2nd one down, item #14-0901 Is there any reason why this wouldn't work on my 77 xs400? I sent MikesXS a couple emails and they said they have no way of knowing if it'd work. The next step would be to contact the manufacturer and ask you guys here. If the advance assemblies are the same, I think this kit should work fine. This is something I'm looking to do eventually, not immediately. matt

Need to ask a favour, Whos got an early DT175MX (The one with a 7 wire CDI) and also a multimeter?

Greetings all, I just picked up a 74' RD200. It's all there but the battery cover. Seller told me topend is locked up but that's to be determined when I dig into it. It even has the original paint that's alittle faded on top of the tank. My plan is to get her back on the road and change nothing. Here are a few pic's of the old girl. This is my intro as I didn't see a topic link for an intro.

Had a weird electrical situation that left me stranded last fall and want to test the electrical system on my 1980 XS400SG. I got as far as checking the output(?) at the battery while the engine is running at or above 2,000 rpm. The Haynes book says it should be at least 14.5v but mine was only reading about 11.3v. Am I correct to assume that the alternator isn't putting out what it's supposed to? Should I do some further testing on the alternator? Battery was somewhat recently charged. (should I first charge up the battery then do the output test?) Thoughts?

Hey guys- I got a finicky 81 XS400- So last time i worked on the bike, I had fiddled enuf with it to finally get a strong spark (this is after I had already had it fired up once, so I know that the possibility is there). Went out today and couldn't get the damn thing to give me spark on either side... Retested the coils, and they used to seem ok - the primarys are almost right on, but the secondary windings (orange to the plug wire, right?) don't give me any reading whatsoever. I pulled the wire off, and tested on the post itself and the orange wire - still nothing. What?!? Here's some other problems that I ran into and tried to bypass- The RH controls are rotten …

Exhaust stud that is! Ok, well maybe not what you thought Thanks to all for the help getting my old XS400 S going!! Couldn't have done it without some really smart guys out there with good advice and trouble shooting tips. My current puzzle is that one of the exhaust studs (inside stud on left cylinder) is gone. The threads are gone as well and it appears to have been either reamed out or wallowed out. That is, the hole is no longer round, no threads, and its larger than the stud signficantly. Been this way since I got it. It doesn't "leak" too bad, but I don't know if this will cause me to burn a valve or something over time (leak is noticeable, espe…

Hello everyone, I'm new here and new to riding very new. Just got my permit yesterday and my first bike a week before that. I'm trying to do this right and find a manual to help me with the bike. But first I need to know exactly what bike I have. It is a 1982 Yamaha, labeled a “Maxim 400", model id #: 12R , full serial # 12R-009722 I took this info to my local motorcycle shop and they told me I had a “SX400J” but they also said it was a SOHC engine??? This one sure looks like a DOHC to me. This is really where a picture is worth a thousand words. OK how do I post a pic? I found the button "insert image" but I don't have a url to post the image? Well, if this…

I have a xs400, 1980 - anyone have any luck getting bags on these? Has anyone seen a luggage rack / sissy bar made for this year? I have seen them for the 79 and previous models....

Hey guys. Trying to get our '67 YR1 up and running, and I have encountered a problem. Fuel flows freely from petcock when it is in the "On" or "Reserve" position. Am I correct in my assumption that it should only flow when the cylinder vacuum pulls it from the petcock bowl? When the petcock is turned on, and connected to the carbs, the fuel rushes mostly to the right hand carb, overflows it, and dumps onto the ground at an alarming rate. TIA for your help, Venny2522

Hi, After lying for several years I went to turn engine over on my RD400 E and its locked up. Have tried Wd40 down spark plug hole but no joy. Any ideas on how to free this. Once I get if freed should I strip engine and rebuild crank ?